Elijah Cummings calls Steve Bannon ‘white supremacist-type,’ says MLK ‘would be very disappointed’

Speaking on MSNBC on the 49th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, Rep. Elijah Cummings said the slain civil rights leader would be “very disappointed” to learn that a “white supremacist-type person” like Steve Bannon held such a powerful position in the White House today.

The Maryland Democrat made the comments on “Morning Joe” when asked by MSNBC’s Willie Geist, “What is the state of Dr. King’s dream?”

“I think if Dr. King were here … I think he would be a bit disappointed,” Mr. Cummings said. “In a way he would be pleased to have seen the first African-American elected president, to have seen many doors opened for people like me and others who now have opportunities that would not have had them back then.

“But at the same time, when we see a guy like Bannon, who is, as far as I’m concerned, a white supremacist-type person, sitting in the White House and I’m paying his salary, I think he’d be very disappointed.”

Mr. Bannon served as chief executive officer to President Trump’s campaign before becoming White House chief strategist and assistant to the president. His appointment drew backlash from the left due to his previous role as executive chair of Breitbart News, a far-right news website.

Speaking Tuesday, Mr. Cummings went on to assume that King would be disappointed with “all the hate talk” in today’s political climate.

He also said he told Mr. Trump during their meeting last month that the American people have been living in fear since he assumed office.

“One of the things that I shared with the president is, ’You cannot lead a country where 67% of the people are fearing you. That’s horrible,” Mr. Cummings said. “I said, ’Mr. President … most of the people tell me that they are fearful of you and they don’t like where we’re going.’”

However, the congressman said he enjoyed his conversation with the president and that “the jury’s still out” on what he thinks of his presidency.